(Presented at the 2023 Conference in Sydney)
Good morning. The theme for our conference this year—’Talking ‘Bout a Revelation’—is something every Urantia Book reader becomes aware of. While our own ascension should be our main focus, it is hard not to want to share with others, the higher truths that enrich our lives. We should not be overwhelmed by the importance of this task, rather be consciously aware of opportunities when they do come our way.
Remember, Jesus was never in a hurry, and we should keep that in mind.
A story I love is about a monk making an appointment to see his master saying, “Master when will I be enlightened?” The Master said, “when you stop trying to change others and start changing yourself.” The monk said, “Ok, I can do that. But how long will it take me to reach enlightenment?” The Master said 20 years. The monk said, “but if I work really hard, twice as hard as the other monks?” The Master said 40 years.
In this presentation will be some of my thoughts about the conference theme that hopefully will stimulate some of yours. I am very happy to have my partner Christine organise the workshop after my presentation, and I would like to start by quickly telling you about my relationship with The Urantia Book and also with Christine (at age 46 ).
Personal Story
In my 60s I developed a medical condition and retired. When I recovered, I had a passion to experience freedom from everyday life. So, I sold my house and all my furniture and travelled for three years in my car and caravan. It was a special time for me consciously, however after three years I was thinking how nice it would be to have a conscious and intelligent lady in my life. Apparently about the same time Christine was having similar thoughts. We met at a dance class and now eight years later have a loving and progressive relationship where we not only work together to improve our relationship but support each other’s personal growth as well. Four years ago, I had no problem sharing my love of The Urantia Book with her. When I met Christine, she was a member of Toastmasters, so I joined as well—and we are actually laying a foundation there to do what this conference is all about, which I will explain at the conclusion of my presentation.
Has your time come? – to be more creative and courageous, about introducing The Urantia Book to others? Only you can answer that question. Let’s look at how Jesus set the foundation for his teaching.
During his later adolescence and early manhood he travelled extensively with an Indian business man and his son – Gonod and Ganid.
The Transition Years (Paper 134)
During the Mediterranean journey Jesus had carefully studied the people he met and the countries through which he passed, and at about this time he reached his final decision as to the remainder of his life on earth. 134:0 (1483.1)
He returned to Galilee to await the beginning of his life work as a public teacher of truth. He was back working on boats at Zebedee’s workshop in Capernaum when one morning he laid down his tools, declaring, “My hour has come,” (134:9.8)
He then went about selecting 12 apostles. 12 very different personalities from different walks of life, to live with him while initiating his teachings to them and how to carry those teachings forward after he was gone.
I think our lesson from this is to become friendly and familiar first with those we may select to engage with, before we introduce them to the higher truths from The Urantia Book.
The Ordination of the Twelve (Paper 140)
The so-called “Sermon on the Mount” is not the gospel of Jesus but the ordination charge to the 12 apostles. It was the Master’s personal commission to those who were to go on preaching the gospel and aspiring to represent him in the world of men even as he was so eloquently and perfectly representative of his Father.
While inherited urges cannot be fundamentally modified, emotional responses to such urges can be changed; therefore the moral nature can be modified, character can be improved. In a strong character emotional responses are integrated and co-ordinated and thus is produced a unified personality. Deficient unification weakens the moral nature and engenders unhappiness. 140:4.8 (1572.8) emphasis mine
Without a worthy goal, life becomes aimless and unprofitable, and much unhappiness results. Jesus exhorted his followers to exercise experiential faith. He admonished them not to depend on mere intellectual assent, credulity and established authority. 140:4.9 (1572.9) emphasis mine
Moana
During our travels in Tasmania, we visited the Moana (Museum of old and new art). It made me think about the Mansion Worlds. The art and displays there are so different that I had no reference to be able to judge right or wrong, good or bad, like or dislike. However, the biggest effect on my consciousness happened when I walked into a half-empty room. There was floor to ceiling bookcases on every wall filled with different size books. There was a large table and chairs in the centre of the room with books open as though students had been studying them. However, the covers and pages within every book were blank, not a word written anywhere. I instantly seemed to get the message that even though I read a lot of books, the blank book that I am creating with every experiential decision I make, is the most important one. Not only for myself but also for my Thought Adjuster. Paper 140 goes on to say:
Education should be a technique of learning (discovering) the better methods of gratifying our natural and inherited urges, and happiness is the resulting total of these enhanced techniques of emotional satisfactions. 140:4.10 (1573.1) emphasis mine
Different Realities
A problem I had for many years with my relationships, was whenever we had an emotional argument and then gave our interpretation a couple of days later, they were different. It happened so often that I wished there was a third person there to agree with my interpretation. However, I now realise, that person might not have agreed with either of us.
When we look at the world and what happens in it. We are looking with our eyes, our conscious mind, our personality, and life experience up to that time. Which makes it impossible for us to see things exactly the same, as each other. With this knowledge perhaps I should stop trying to have others agree with my opinions and do more listening in case I want to change mine. It also gives me more understanding when my sister says she “..just cannot read The Urantia Book.”
As science explains, you literally become what you think about most; your life becomes what you have imagined and believed in the most. The world is literally your mirror enabling you to experience in the physical plane what you hold as your truth – until you change it! Maybe that is why introducing a higher truth to others, becomes so important.
Conclusion
I would like to tell you about Toastmasters. As I mentioned, Christine was already an experienced Toastmaster. What I liked, about Toastmaster’s was that I had a captive audience for my seven mini speeches that they were evaluated afterwards. So I was getting my message across twice.
We meet every second week, have morning tea halfway through the meeting, and some of us also have lunch afterwards which allows us to become socially close to these people and further understand their personalities and interests.
We both keep taking our speeches to a higher conscious level, and the members feel comfortable enough with us to ask questions about our speeches. It is a work-in-progress for both Christine, me, and the members.
This format of Toastmasters gave me an idea for a study group. Because we each exist in a slightly different reality, information in The Urantia Book will affect each of us in a different way. So by stopping the reading to discuss our different thoughts, sometimes interferes with the message of the complete paper. We are studying the papers so we can experientially move closer to God, not just to become a student of The Urantia Book.
If we were to have each person read from the selected Paper for three minutes (egg timer) until the Paper was completed, then have three minutes for each person to describe how the text affected them and what steps they might be taking to bring that advanced knowledge into their lives, it might make for an interesting study group.
Thank You!